Pleating apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for use in the manufacture of the pleated upper section of a drapery panel. The apparatus includes a computing device for determining the required pleat size and space size from a given hemmed width size and a given number of pleats desired in the finished drapery panel to obtain a given finished width of the drapery panel and includes a plurality of pleat forming devices for evenly spacing, folding and tacking a plurality of pleats in the upper section of the drapery panel in accordance with the computations of the computing device.

United States Patent [191 Lawson 3 July 2, 1974 [54] PLEATING APPARATUS 3,633,800 1/1972 Wallace 223/28 3 696 515 10/1972 Tuskos..... Inventor: Jack M. LaWSUn, AShWOQd, 9 P 134 N0. 3, Memphis, Tenn- 38118 on a Filedi pt 1973 Primary ExaminerGeo. V. Larkin No: Attorney, Agent, or Firm.l0hn Walker, 52 us. Cl. 223/28 [571 ABSTRACT [5 CL An apparatus for use in the manufacture of the Flfild 0f pleated upper sectign of a drapery panel The appara 33/192 180 174 174 G, 137; tus includes a computing device for detemlining the l 12/132-136, required pleat size and space size from a given hemmed width size and a given number of pleats del References Clled sired in the finished drapery panel to obtain a given UNITED STATES PATENTS finished width of the drapery panel and includes a plu- 2,669,955 2/1954 Gellman 223/30 x rality 0f Pleat forming devices for evenly p g fold- 2,830,401 4/1958 Davies et a1. 223/34 ing and tacking a plurality of pleats in the upper sec- 2,998,659 9/l96l Yaworsky v 223/28 X tion of the drapery panel in accordance with the com- 3.010,621 1 1/1961 Bonarrigo.... 223/31 putations 0f the computing device. 3,473,706 10/1969 Stahl 223/31 3,547,319 12/1970 Ketcham 223/28 18 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PLEATING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to devices for use in the manufacture of pleated drapery panels.

2. Description of the Prior Art The following U.S. Patents are known to relate to the present invention: Heyer, U.S. Pat. No. 74,533; Hedges, U.S. Pat. No. 532,199; Hilton, U.S. Pat. No. 944,094; Heap, U.S. Pat. No. 1,451,220; Krell et al., U.S. Pat. No. 1,607,131; Strube, U.S. Pat. No. 2,115,593; Gellman, U.S. Pat. No. 2,669,955; Matt, U.S. Pat. No. 2,777,617; Ogle, U.S. Pat. No. 2,834,522; Carrigan, U.S. Pat. No. 2,879,927; Windham, U.S. Pat. No. 2,948,241; Schiavone, U.S. Pat. No. 3,029,004; and Packer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,166,854. None of the above patents disclose or suggest the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed towards overcoming the problems and disadvantages in the manufacture of the pleated upper sections of drapery panels. The concept of the present invention is to provide an apparatus comprising a computing device for determining the required pleat size and space size from a given hemmed width size of a drapery panel and a given number of pleats desired in the finished drapery panel to obtain a given finished width of the drapery panel and comprising a plurality of pleat forming devices for evenly spacing, folding and tacking a plurality of pleats in the upper section of the drapery panel in accordance with the computations of the computing device without stretching the fabric of the drapery panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic front view of the pleating apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view as taken on line Il-ll of FIG. 1 with some parts removed for clarity.

FIG. 3 is a front view of FIG. 2 with some parts removed for clarity.

FIG. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of a portion of one of the plurality of pleat forming devices at a first stage in the folding process.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing a second state of the folding process.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing a third stage of the folding process.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing a fourth stage of the folding process.

FIG. 8 is somewhat diagrammatic view of a portion of the present invention showing the overlap marker means and the add-on gauge means in detail.

FIG. 9 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of the back of the pleating apparatus of the present invention with some parts removed for clarity.

FIG. 10 is a detail view of one of the plurality of scales of the computing device of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view as taken on line Xl--Xl of FIG. 10. A

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The pleating apparatus 11 of the present invention is for use in the manufacture of the pleated upper sections of drapery panels. The pleating apparatus 11 includes a computing device 13 for determining the required pleat size and space size from a given hemmed width size of a drapery panel and a given number of pleats desired in the finished drapery panel to obtain a given finished width of the drapery panel; a plurality of pleat forming devices 15 for evenly spacing, folding and tacking a plurality of pleats in the upper section of the drapery panel in accordance with the computations of the computing device 13; and a housing 17 having a bin 17'.

The computing device 13 consists of a plurality of scales 19. Each of the scales 19 of the computing device 13 corresponds to a specific number of pleats in a finished drapery panel. For example, the computing device 13 preferably includes one such scale 19 for 5 pleats, another such. scale 19 for 6 pleats, and so on. Each of the plurality of scales 19 includes a first column 21 of numerical indicia corresponding to the hemmed width of various drapery panels; a second column 23 of numerical indicia corresponding to the pleat side of various drapery panels, the second column 23 being movable relative to the first column 21; a pointer 25 fixedly mounted intermediate of the second column 23 and movable therewith relative to the first column 21 for alignment with a given numerical indicium of the first column 21; a third column 27 of numerical indica corresponding to the space size of various drapery panels; a fourth column 29 of numerical indicia corresponding to the finished width of various drapery panels; and a movable cursor 31 for alignment with the desired finished width indicium of the fourth column 29 to show the necessary space size indicium of the third column 27 and the necessary pleat size indicium of the second column 23 when the pointer 25 is set on the given hemmed width indicium of the first column'2l. It should be noted that the second column 23 is made movable relative to the first column 21 by any means known to those skilled in the art. For example, the second column 23 may consist of an endless tape 33 running between two wheels 35 rotatably mounted on the housing 17 of the pleating apparatus 11. The movable cursor 31 preferably consists of an opaque body portion 37, a first window portion 39 for allowing the de sired finished width indicium of the fourth column 29 to be read therethrough, a second window portion 41 for allowing the necessary space size indicium of the third column 27 to be read therethrough, and a third window portion 42 for allowing the necessary pleat size indicium of the second column 23 to be read therethrough when the pointer 25 is set on the given hemmed width indicium of the first column 21. An optional fourth window portion 43 may be provided on the movable cursor 31 to aid in making sure the pointer 25 is perfectly aligned on the given hemmed width indicium of the first column 21. in other words, after the pointer 25 is set on the given hemmed width indicium of the first column 21, the cursor 31 is positioned with the fourth window portion 43 thereover to give a more limited view of the setting of the pointer 25 relative to the hemmed width indicium of the first column 21.

In addition, the scales 19 preferably include fullness" indicia for quick selection of the more popular fullness values of finished drapery panels. The term fullness relates to the ratio between pleat size and space size. More specifically, standard fullness relates to an approximately 50/50 ratio between pleat size and space size and may be indicated on the scales 19 by certain indicia markings 44. Extra fullness relates to an approximately 55/45 ratio between pleat size and space size and may be indicated on the scales 19 by a certain indicia marking 44". The indicia markings 44, 44" are preferably of different colors or the like to make them easily distinguishable.

It will be understood that the reason that a plurality of scales 19 are provided, rather than or example a single scale 19, is because of the following: (1) It would be unwieldy. (2) It is easier to read with a plurality of scales. (3) it provides a means for making a comparison between contemplated settings to decide on an optimum setting and without having to remember figures. For example, a particular setting may be made on one of the scales l9, and then another setting made on another of the scales 19. Then the two sets of figures may be compared to decide at a glance on the particular one to use. (4) lt is necessary for each scale to be different from other scales according to the number of pleats desired, and according to the number of spaces. In summary, by having a plurality of scales 19 it gives you all of the mathematical possibilities that will be encoun tered to cover a full range of desired fullness.

Each of the plurality of pleat forming devices is movable one relative to the other. Preferably, the center pleat forming device 15 is fixedly anchored to the housing 17 of the pleating apparatus 11 (see FIG. 9). Each of the plurality of pleat forming devices 15 includes a frame 45, folding means 47 mounted on the frame 45, and tacking means 55 mounted on the frame 45 for fixedly fastening pleats together after they have been folded by the folding means 47. The folding means 47 includes finger means 49 for supporting the section of the drapery panel to be pleated. The finger means 49 preferably includes a first finger member 65, a second finger member 67, and a third finger member 69. Clamp means 51 is included in the folding means 47 to hold the section of the drapery panel to be pleated against the second finger member 67. The folding means 47 also includes a fork means 53 to force the section of the drapery panel to be pleated around the second finger member 67 to form a pleat. The folding means 47 preferably includes adjustment means 57 for moving the finger means 49 relative to the fork means 53 to allow the size of the pleats to be formed to be varied. The adjustment means 57 preferably comprises a cam member 59 and a cam follower member 61. The cam follower member 61 consists of a first slidable plate 63 slidably mounted from frame 45 by suitable means for vertical movement, onto which the finger means 49 is mounted and onto which the clamp means 51 is pivotally mounted above the finger means 49. The folding means 47 preferably includes first and second outside arm members 71, 73. The first and second outside arm members 71, 73 coact with the fork means 53 to force the section of the drapery panel to be pleated around the first, second and third finger members 65, 67, 69 to form a triple fold pleat. The fork means 53 of the folding means 47 is mounted on a second slidable plate 75, slidably mounted from frame 45 by suitable means for vertical movement. The first and second outside arm members 71, 73 are pivotally mounted on the frame 45 and are activated by striker means 77 mounted on the second slidable plate 75. The first and second outside arm means 71, 73 are provided with return springs 78 to reposition the first and second outside arm means 71, 73 after they have been activated by the striker means 77. Finger cam means 79 are preferably fixedly mounted on the second slidable plate for spreading the first and third finger members 65, 69 to assist in the formation of triple fold pleats. The folding means 47 includes a first electric solenoid 80 for activating the second slidable plate 75 to cause the fork means 53 to force the section of the drapery panel to be pleated around the second finger member 67 of the finger means 49 to form a pleat.

The tacking means 55 includes a stapler means 81 for stapling pleats together after they have been formed by the folding means 47 and includes stapler actuating means 83 for operating the stapler means 81 coactively with the folding means 47 The stapler actuating means 83 includes a second electric solenoid 85 attached to the stapler means 81 through a scissors-like member 87.

Each of the plurality of pleat forming devices 15 optionally includes a pin strip holding member 89 mounted on the frame 45 for holding a pin strip adjacent the folding means 47 and the tacking means 55 to allow the pin strip to be tacked into the pleat of the drapery panel when the tacking means 55 fixedly fastens the pleat together after it has been folded by the folding means 47. The construction and uses of pin strips are well known to those skilled in the art, see, for example, the Strube US. Pat. No. 2,115,593 patent.

The pleating apparatus 11 includes upper and lower support bars 91, 93 mounted in the housing 17. Each of the plurality of pleat forming devices 15 includes upper and lower lugs 95, 97 or the like to slidably mount the pleat forming devices 15 onto the upper and lower support bars 91, 93 preferably through ball bearing assemblies 99. Lazy tong means 101 join the plurality of pleat forming devices 15 together for allowing each of the plurality of pleat forming devices 15 to be uniformly extended or contracted relative to each other. Preferably, the lazy tong means 101 is coupled to a threaded drive rod 103. The drive rod 103 causes the lazy tong means 101 to extend or contract and, thereby, causes the plurality of pleat forming devices 15 to be uniformly moved relative to each other. A cam member activating shaft 105 is coupled to each of the cam members 15 of the plurality of pleat forming devices 15 preferably through ball bearing spline assemblies well known to those skilled in the art (see, for example, brochure No. DSM-lOl, Saginaw Steering Gear Division, General Motors Corp).

The pleating apparatus 11 preferably includes overlap marker means 107 mounted on the frame 45 of each outer pleat forming device for establishing the distance from the inner edge of the drapery panel to the center of the first pleat thereof. It should be noted that the overlap portion of a drapery panel is that portion which falls in the center of a pair of drapery panels so that when a pair of drapery panels are closed, the overlap portions extend over each other to form the closure. Trade practice has established the overlap portion of a drapery panel at 3 /2 inches. To establish the distance from the inner edge of the drapery to the center of the first pleat it is necessary to add 9% of the pleat size measurement to the 3 /2 inch overlap. Each overlap marker means 107 includes a marker 109 and a cam means 111. By being mounted on the frame 45 of each outer pleat forming device 15, the overlap marker means 107 moves proportionally with the plurality of pleat forming devices 15. The cam means 111 of the overlap marker means 107 is fixedly mounted to the cam follower member 61 of the adjustment means 57 of the adjacent pleat forming device 15. As the adjustment means 57 varies the size of the pleats to be formed by moving the finger means 49 relative to the fork means 53, the cam means 111 through a cam follower 113 pivotally mounted on the marker 109 varies the setting of the overlap marker means 107 in direct proportion thereto. For example, when the finger means 49 are raised to increase the size of the pleat, the marker 109 is moved to correlate with the larger size pleat. The pleating apparatus 11 preferably includes overlap marker means 107 on each end thereof to accomodate both right-hand and left-hand drapery panels, that is, drapery panels having theoverlap portion on either the right or left side.

An add-on gauge means 115 is preferably included on the pleating apparatus 11 for allowing it to be used for the manufacture of drapery panels having more pleats than the pleating apparatus 11 has pleat forming devices 15. It should be noted that since the plurality of pleat forming devices 15 are spaced center-to-center for a flat, unpleated drapery panel, it is necessary when spacing the fiat, unpleated portion of a partially pleated drapery panel to center the first pleat to be formed in the flat, unpleated portion a distance from the center of the last folded pleat equal to one pleat and one space. The add-on gauge means 115 includes a frame 117 mounted on the lazy tong means 101 for allowing the add-on gauge means 115 to be uniformly extended or contracted relative to the plurality of pleat forming devices 15. A scale 119 is mounted on the frame 117. The scale 119 includes numerical indicia that corre spond to various pleatsizes. The use the add-on gauge means 115, the center fold of the last folded pleat is placed in line with the appropriate pleat size indicium on the scale 119 and the flat, unfolded portion is placed over the finger means 49 of adjoining pleat forming devices 15. Thus, the amount of fabric that is taken up in the pleat fold is accounted for and the proper centerto-center pleat spacing measurement is maintained.

In the operation of the pleating apparatus 11, the first step is to determine the width of the hemmed drapery panel to be pleated, the number of pleats desired in the finished drapery panel, and the desiredfinished width of the drapery panel. Next, the pointer 25 of the computing device 13 is set on the proper hemmed width indicium of the first column 21 of the proper scale 19 and the first window portion 39 of the cursor 31 is set on the proper finished width indicium of the fourth column 29. The correct pleat size indicium and space size indicium are then visible through the third and second window portions 42, 41 respectively of the cursor 31.

Next, the computed pleat size and space size are entered into a control system of a type well known to those skilled in the art at a control panel 212. The control system regulates the pleat size by activating the cam member 59 by suitable well known means to raise or lower the finger means 49 relative to the fork means 53. The control system regulates the space size by activating the lazy tong means 101 to extend or contract each pleat forming device 15 relative to the other pleat forming devices 15.

Next, the inner edge of the drapery panel being pleated is aligned with one of the overlap marker means 107 and the upper section of the drapery panel is placed over the finger means 49 of the adjoining pleat forming devices 15 with the lower section of the drapery panel placed in the bin 17 of the housing 17. The clamp. means 51 of the pleat forming devices 15 are then moved against the finger means 49 to clamp the drapery panel therebetween. The control system then activates the first electric solenoid to cause the second slidable plate 75 and, thus, the fork means 53 to move downward first forcing the finger cam means 79 to spread the first and third finger members 65, 69 and then forcing the section of the drapery panel to be pleated around the finger means 49 to form pleats. The first electric solenoid then raises the second slidable plate 75 causing the first and third finger members 65, 69 to return to their original position flanking the second finger member 67 and holding the folded fabric therebetween. As the second slidable plate 75 continues its upward motion, the striker :means 77 forces the first and second outside arm means 71, 73 in a downward are which causes outside creases to be formed in the triple-fold pleat. As the second slidable plate 75 moves upward, the control system activates the second electric solenoid to cause the stapler means 81 to tack the folded pleats together. The clamp means 51 is then released and the drapery panel is removed from the pleating apparatus 11. The tacked pleats of the drapery panel are then sewn together in a manner well known to those skilled in the art thereby completing the pleating operation.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of the invention.

1 claim:

1. An apparatusfor use in the manufacture of the pleated upper section of a drapery panel, said apparatus comprising a pleat forming device for folding and tacking pleats inthe upper section of the drapery panel, said pleat forming device including:

a. a frame;

b. folding means mounted on said frame, said folding means having finger means for supporting the section of the drapery panel to be pleated, clamp means for holding the section of the drapery panel to be pleated against said finger means, and fork means for forcing the section of the drapery panel to be pleated around said finger means to form a pleat; and

c. tacking means mounted on said frame for fixedly fastening pleats together after they have been folded by said folding means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said folding means includes adjustment means for moving said finger means relative to said fork means to allow the size of the pleats to be formed to be varied.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said tacking means comprises:

a. stapler means for stapling pleats together after they have been folded;

b. stapler actuating means for operating said stapler means coactively with said folding means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which is included a computing device for determining the required pleat size and space size from a given hemmed width size of a drapery panel and a given number of pleats desired in the finished drapery panel to obtain a given finished width of the drapery panel, said computing device comprising a plurality of scales, each of said scales corresponding to a specific number of pleats, each scale including:

a. a first column of numerical indicia corresponding to the hemmed width of various drapery panels;

b. a second column of numerical indicia corresponding to the pleat size of various drapery panels, said second column being movable relative to said first column;

c. a pointer fixedly mounted intermediate of said second column and movable therewith relative to said first column for alignment with a given numerical indicium of said first column;

d. a third column of numerical indicia corresponding to the space size of various drapery panels;

e. a fourth column of numerical indicia corresponding to the finished width of various drapery panels; and

f. a movable cursor for alignment with the desired finished width indicium of said fourth column to show the necessary space size indicium of said third column and the necessary pleat size indicium of said second column when said pointer is set on the given hemmed width indicium of said first column.

5. An apparatus for use in the manufacture of the pleated upper section of a drapery panel, said apparatus comprising a computing device for determining the required pleat size and space size from a given hemmed width size of a drapery panel and a given number of pleats desired in the finished drapery panel to obtain a given finished width of the drapery panel; and a plurality of pleat forming devices for evenly spacing, folding and tacking a plurality of pleats in the upper section of the drapery panel in accordance with the computations of said computing device without stretching the fabric of the drapery panel; each of said plurality of pleat forming devices including:

a. a frame;

b. folding means mounted on said frame, said folding means including finger means for supporting the section of the drapery panel to be pleated, clamp means for holding the section of the drapery panel to be pleated against said finger means, and fork means for forcing the section of the drapery panel to be pleated around said finger means to form a pleat; and

c. tacking means mounted on said frame for fixedly fastening pleats together after they have been folded by said folding means.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said folding means includes adjustment means for moving said fin ger means relative to said fork means to allow the size of the pleats to be formed to be varied.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which said adjustment means comprises a cam member and a cam follower member, said cam follower member consisting of a first slidable plate onto which said finger means is mounted and onto which said clamp means is pivotally mounted above said finger means.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 in which is included overlap marker means for establishing the distance from the inner edge of the drapery panel to the center of the first pleat of the drapery panel; said overlap marker means including a marker and a cam means, said cam means being fixedly attached to said first slidable plate of said adjustment means of an adjacent pleat forming device for adjusting said marker in direct proportion to said finger means of the adjacent pleat forming device.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 in which said folding means includes first and second outside arm members; in which said finger means of said folding means includes first, second and third finger members; and in which said first and second outside arm members coact with said fork means to force the section of the drapery panel to be pleated around said first, second and third finger members to form a triple-fold pleat.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 in which is included a second slidable plate and in which is included striker means mounted on said second slidable plate, said fork means of said folding means being mounted on said second slidable plate and said first and second outside arm members being pivotally mounted on said frame and being activated by said striker means.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 in which said folding means includes a first electric solenoid for activating said second slidable plate to cause said fork means to force the section of the drapery panel to be pleated around said finger means to form a pleat.

12. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said tacking means comprises:

a. stapler means for stapling pleats together after they have been folded by said folding means; and

b. stapler actuating means for operating said stapler means coactively with said folding means.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 in which said stapler actuating means includes a second electric solenoid attached to said stapler means through a scissors-like member.

14. The apparatus of claim 5 in which each of said plurality of pleat forming devices includes a pin strip holding member mounted on said frame for holding a pin strip adajcent said folding means and said tacking means to allow the pin strip to be tacked into the pleat of the drapery panel when said tacking means fixedly fastens the pleat together after it has been folded by said folding means.

15. The apparatus of claim 5 in which is included lazy tong means for attaching said plurality of pleat forming devices together to allow each of said plurality of pleat forming devices to be uniformly extended or contracted relative to each other.

16. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said computing device comprises a plurality of scales, each of said 9 scales corresponding to a specific number of pleats, each scale including:

a. a first column of numerical indicia corresponding to the hemmed width of various drapery panels; b. a second column of numerical indica corresponding to the pleat size of various drapery panels. said second column being movable relative to said first column;

c. a pointer fixedly mounted intermediate of said second column and movable therewith relative to said first column for alignment with a given numerical indicium of said first column;

d. a third column of numerical indicia corresponding to the space size of various drapery panels;

e. a fourth column of numerical indicia corresponding to the finished width of various drapery panels; and

f. a movable cursor for alignment with the desired finished width indicium of said fourth column to show the necessary space size indicium of said third column and the necessary pleat size indicium of said second column when said pointer is set on the given hemmed width indicium of said first column.

17. The apparatus of claim in which is included add-on gauge means for allowing said apparatus to be used for the manufacture of pleated drapery panels having more pleats than said apparatus has pleat fonning devices; said add-on gauge means including an addon gauge frame mounted on said lazy tong means for allowing said add-on gauge means to be uniformly extended or contracted relative to said plurality of pleat forming devices and including a scale having numerical indicia that corresponds to various pleat sizes and being mounted on said add-on gauge frame for allowing the center fold of the last folded pleat in a partially folded a l l0 drapery panel to be positioned adjacent the appropriate numerical indicium of said scale thus maintaining the proper center-to-center pleat spacing measurement.

18. An apparatus for use in the manufacture of the pleated upper section of a drapery panel, said apparatus comprising a computing device for determining the required pleat size and space size from a given hemmed width size of a drapery panel and a given number of pleats desired in the finished drapery panel to obtain a given finished width of the drapery panel, said computing device including at least one scale, said scale corresponding to a specific number of pleats and having:

a. a first column of numerical indicia corresponding to the hemmed width of various drapery panels;

b. a second column of numerical indica corresponding to the pleat size of various drapery panels, said second column being movable relative to said first column;

c. a pointer fixedly mounted intermediate of said second column and movable therewith relative to said first column for alignment with a given numerical indicium of said first column;

d. a third column of numerical indicia corresponding to the space size of various drapery panels;

e. a fourth column of numerical indicia corresponding to the finished width of various drapery panels; and t f. a movable cursor for alignment with the desired finished width indicium of said fourth column to show the necessary space size indicium of said third column and the necessary pleat size indicium of said second column when said pointer is set on the given hemmed width indicium of said first column. 

1. An apparatus for use in the manufacture of the pleated upper section of a drapery panel, said apparatus comprising a pleat forming device for folding and tacking pleats in the upper section of the drapery panel, said pleat forming device including: a. a frame; b. folding means mounted on said frame, said folding means having finger means for supporting the section of the drapery panel to be pleated, clamp means for holding the section of the drapery panel to be pleated against said finger means, and fork means for forcing the section of the drapery panel to be pleated around said finger means to form a pleat; and c. tacking means mounted on said frame for fixedly fastening pleats together after they have been folded by said folding means.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said folding means includes adjustment means for moving said finger means relative to said fork means to allow the size of the pleats to be formed to be varied.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said tacking means comprises: a. stapler means for stapling pleats together after they have been folded; b. stapler actuating means for operating said stapler means coactively with said folding means.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which is included a computing device for determining the required pleat size and space size from a given hemmed width size of a drapery panel and a given number of pleats desired in the finished drapery panel to obtain a given finished width of the drapery panel, said computing device comprising a plurality of scales, each of said scales corresponding to a specific number of pleats, each scale including: a. a first column of numerical indicia corresponding to the hemmed width of various drapery panels; b. a second column of numerical indicia corresponding to the pleat size of various drapery panels, said second column being movable relative to said first column; c. a pointer fixedly mounted intermediate of said second column and movable therewith relative to said first column for alignment with a given numerical indicium of said first column; d. a third column of numerical indicia corresponding to the space size of various drapery panels; e. a fourth column of numerical indicia corresponding to the finished width of various drapery panels; and f. a movable cursor for alignment with the desired finished width indicium of said fourth column to show the necessary space size indicium of said third column and the necessary pleat size indicium of said second column when said pointer is set on the given hemmed width indicium of said first column.
 5. An apparatus for use in the manufacture of the pleated upper section of a drapery panel, said apparatus comprising a computing device for determining the required pleat size and space size from a given hemmed width size of a drapery panel and a given number of pleats desired in the finished drapery panel to obtain a given finished width of the drapery panel; and a plurality of pleat formIng devices for evenly spacing, folding and tacking a plurality of pleats in the upper section of the drapery panel in accordance with the computations of said computing device without stretching the fabric of the drapery panel; each of said plurality of pleat forming devices including: a. a frame; b. folding means mounted on said frame, said folding means including finger means for supporting the section of the drapery panel to be pleated, clamp means for holding the section of the drapery panel to be pleated against said finger means, and fork means for forcing the section of the drapery panel to be pleated around said finger means to form a pleat; and c. tacking means mounted on said frame for fixedly fastening pleats together after they have been folded by said folding means.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said folding means includes adjustment means for moving said finger means relative to said fork means to allow the size of the pleats to be formed to be varied.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which said adjustment means comprises a cam member and a cam follower member, said cam follower member consisting of a first slidable plate onto which said finger means is mounted and onto which said clamp means is pivotally mounted above said finger means.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 in which is included overlap marker means for establishing the distance from the inner edge of the drapery panel to the center of the first pleat of the drapery panel; said overlap marker means including a marker and a cam means, said cam means being fixedly attached to said first slidable plate of said adjustment means of an adjacent pleat forming device for adjusting said marker in direct proportion to said finger means of the adjacent pleat forming device.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7 in which said folding means includes first and second outside arm members; in which said finger means of said folding means includes first, second and third finger members; and in which said first and second outside arm members coact with said fork means to force the section of the drapery panel to be pleated around said first, second and third finger members to form a triple-fold pleat.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 in which is included a second slidable plate and in which is included striker means mounted on said second slidable plate, said fork means of said folding means being mounted on said second slidable plate and said first and second outside arm members being pivotally mounted on said frame and being activated by said striker means.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 in which said folding means includes a first electric solenoid for activating said second slidable plate to cause said fork means to force the section of the drapery panel to be pleated around said finger means to form a pleat.
 12. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said tacking means comprises: a. stapler means for stapling pleats together after they have been folded by said folding means; and b. stapler actuating means for operating said stapler means coactively with said folding means.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 in which said stapler actuating means includes a second electric solenoid attached to said stapler means through a scissors-like member.
 14. The apparatus of claim 5 in which each of said plurality of pleat forming devices includes a pin strip holding member mounted on said frame for holding a pin strip adajcent said folding means and said tacking means to allow the pin strip to be tacked into the pleat of the drapery panel when said tacking means fixedly fastens the pleat together after it has been folded by said folding means.
 15. The apparatus of claim 5 in which is included lazy tong means for attaching said plurality of pleat forming devices together to allow each of said plurality of pleat forming devices to be uniformly extended or contracted relative to each other.
 16. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said compuTing device comprises a plurality of scales, each of said scales corresponding to a specific number of pleats, each scale including: a. a first column of numerical indicia corresponding to the hemmed width of various drapery panels; b. a second column of numerical indica corresponding to the pleat size of various drapery panels, said second column being movable relative to said first column; c. a pointer fixedly mounted intermediate of said second column and movable therewith relative to said first column for alignment with a given numerical indicium of said first column; d. a third column of numerical indicia corresponding to the space size of various drapery panels; e. a fourth column of numerical indicia corresponding to the finished width of various drapery panels; and f. a movable cursor for alignment with the desired finished width indicium of said fourth column to show the necessary space size indicium of said third column and the necessary pleat size indicium of said second column when said pointer is set on the given hemmed width indicium of said first column.
 17. The apparatus of claim 15 in which is included add-on gauge means for allowing said apparatus to be used for the manufacture of pleated drapery panels having more pleats than said apparatus has pleat forming devices; said add-on gauge means including an add-on gauge frame mounted on said lazy tong means for allowing said add-on gauge means to be uniformly extended or contracted relative to said plurality of pleat forming devices and including a scale having numerical indicia that corresponds to various pleat sizes and being mounted on said add-on gauge frame for allowing the center fold of the last folded pleat in a partially folded drapery panel to be positioned adjacent the appropriate numerical indicium of said scale thus maintaining the proper center-to-center pleat spacing measurement.
 18. An apparatus for use in the manufacture of the pleated upper section of a drapery panel, said apparatus comprising a computing device for determining the required pleat size and space size from a given hemmed width size of a drapery panel and a given number of pleats desired in the finished drapery panel to obtain a given finished width of the drapery panel, said computing device including at least one scale, said scale corresponding to a specific number of pleats and having: a. a first column of numerical indicia corresponding to the hemmed width of various drapery panels; b. a second column of numerical indica corresponding to the pleat size of various drapery panels, said second column being movable relative to said first column; c. a pointer fixedly mounted intermediate of said second column and movable therewith relative to said first column for alignment with a given numerical indicium of said first column; d. a third column of numerical indicia corresponding to the space size of various drapery panels; e. a fourth column of numerical indicia corresponding to the finished width of various drapery panels; and f. a movable cursor for alignment with the desired finished width indicium of said fourth column to show the necessary space size indicium of said third column and the necessary pleat size indicium of said second column when said pointer is set on the given hemmed width indicium of said first column. 